UConn's Caroline Doty celebrates their 83-53 victory over Kentucky in the elite eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Monday, April 1, 2013.

UConn's Caroline Doty celebrates their 83-53 victory over Kentucky in the elite eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. on Monday, April 1, 2013.

BRIDGEPORT -- The members of the UConn women's basketball team continued to say the same things after each of their four losses this season. Change was necessary. Without it, the Huskies knew they had little chance to reach their full potential and win a national championship.

UConn failed to change after two losses to No. 2 Notre Dame and another to No. 1 Baylor during the regular season. It reached a point where it was unknown if this group would be able to change, especially after another crushing loss to the Irish in the Big East tournament final at the XL Center March 12.

How would the Huskies use the break prior the start of the NCAA tournament? How would they fare once the NCAA tournament began? As the first four games have unfolded, UConn has provided the necessary evidence to make believers of their opponents and of those teams still alive in the chase for the national title. This is a different team. This team has changed.

This team is back in the Final Four.

"We took a new approach after we lost in the Big East tournament to Notre Dame," UConn senior Caroline Doty said. "We were done with losing. We were sick of it. We know if we lose again, the season is over, and we're not ready to be done. I think (Monday), coming out like we did with a big win over a great Kentucky team, everything's clicking at the right time and we're ready to do our work in New Orleans."

The Huskies, who will face Notre Dame in the national semifinals Sunday at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, held a meeting in the days following the Big East tournament. Members of the UConn coaching staff had their say. Some players did, too. There were certain unidentified players who were not fully embracing the team concept. There were unidentified players struggling with their confidence. This had to change. And it has.

"I think we just made a conscious effort," UConn junior Bria Hartley said. "It had to change. I think the main difference is the unity and the belief that we have in each other and the belief that we have in ourselves, because if you're lacking confidence in something, how could someone else be confident in you doing something?"

This newfound unity and self-confidence have been on display throughout the NCAA tournament, which has been UConn's best stretch of the season.

The Huskies (33-4) have won by an average of 39.2 points, including a 76-50 win over fourth-seeded Maryland in the regional semifinals Saturday and an 83-53 win over second-seeded Kentucky in the regional final Monday. They are averaging 85.2 points on 53.8 percent shooting from the field. Defensively, they are allowing 46.0 points on 31.2 percent shooting.

"I think a lot of teams kind of dwell on losing, in general," UConn junior Stefanie Dolson said. "But our coaches do such a good job, and the upperclassmen, of controlling the mindset of the team and knowing that we lost, but we need to get it back.

"The NCAA tournament is a different time of the year, a different season. And we came out ready to play and ready to take it on. And I think we're doing just that."

Eight players are averaging at least 15.5 minutes in the tournament for UConn. Seven players are averaging at least 7.8 points. Six are averaging at least 3.8 rebounds.

But the contributions of Dolson (8.3p, 8.5r), Hartley (9.0p, 3.8r, 3.8a) and freshmen Moriah Jefferson (9.5p, 2.3a, 2.5s) and Morgan Tuck (10.8p) have also been valuable.

The Huskies are no longer relying on Mosqueda-Lewis, Dolson and sometimes Stewart to carry them. They are in this together right now. And this is why their national championship hopes have not been higher.

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"This is the first time in a couple of months that I feel like they're on the same page, we're on the same page with them as coaches, and they've become a team now," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "In February, there were times we were just individuals that were on the same team. We really weren't a team. This last month ... we've become a team. We deserve to go to the Final Four."